Torsion-lid for journal-boxes.



T. Hf SYMIN'GTON.

TORSION LID POR JOURNAL BOXES. y

APPLIOATION TILED FEB. 1B, 1909.

Patented Nov.- 2, 1909.

c i r @NESTED STATE@ "relief-sfr ll'll-ng specification o Letters Patent.

Patented No?. 239

Application filed Febrnary 1S, 1999. Seriallo. 4755135.63.

To all -waoffn it may concern.'

l-e it known that l, Tiroims H. Smirno- 'ro o citizen ol the United States of America, residing; at the city oi' Bultiliore, Stute or iraryland, have invented certe-in new and useful improvements in 'l`orsionLids for Journal-Boxes, ol' which the following is e specilieetion.

This invention relates to journal boxes of the type in which the lid is positioned by ineens of s cani und rollover. Such a, journal box is illustrated in the upplicants prior patents Nos. 339,513 und til-55,362. The lid of the box of the first patent is held in closed and open position by ineens of e coin carried by the lid. This cani has two fiat locking or positioning surfaces corresponding to the open sind closed positions respectivelv of the lid. torsion spring is secured to the box. This spring is formed of two helices and the helices are connected by a portion of the spring Wire bent to forni a loop or arm placed tsngentielly to the helices. The tension ot' the spring presses the extremity of the arm laterally against me cani surface presented to it es the lid is opened and closed, the cuni rotates und the firm which acts :is a. follower mores over the cani suri-(ices. v"rl/hen the Het or positioning surfaces ot' the com ore presented to the spring arm, the tension of the spring; is exerted to pre vent rotation oi the com and corresponding movement ot' the lid. 'lhe e surfaces :ire so placed that the lid is held in open and in closed position. 'l`o more the cover from either of these positions, the tension of the spring must' oe overcome und the cover is free to swing interinediotely. The second paient shows zr device more similar to that to be described. The earn is stationery on the box and the follower is carried hy the lid. A defect ot' the structures of these pzitl ents is diie to the feet that lhe'srin or loo ol the spring which presses on the com is 'formed of lne. seme Wire which forms the helices. The straight :uni does not oer as greet resistance to bending' as do the helices, :1nd the tension which. is exerted is not lhut of he helices but, oil the arm. -To gire sufficient strength to the lever erin, the wire must he heavier than is necessary for the coil of the spring, which results in a wasteful use of metal. By use of the present device, the size of the spring wire me be reduced to the minimum necessary to gire to the spring' coil the desired resistance.,

the helices is the object. of the present. invention. rEllis is done by substituting for the erm composed of spring wir en vwhich is so rigid tliet it, will not yield. 'lille spring is still formed of two helices, the Wire conneoting the helices is straight end in the plane oi' the cylinder of the helices. Il. rod limiing sn erin .et right angles there to is plee-ed in the centrall opening of the helices, the extending radially outward engaged by the straight intermediate portion of the spring. The tension oit "toe heliees is now transmitted directly to the erin which beers against the positioning cam and resilient action is eonined to helices Suliicient of s journal bei: embodying she subject metter of my invention to illustrete its operation is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure i is e regnientery elevation of the journal hoi: lid. ljig. 2 is o section on the ine 2-2, Fig. l, showing; the torsion device or' my invent-ion and including e. portion of e. journsl box. Fig. 3 s. section oi the lid on the line 3-5-3, Fig. l. Fig. l is e perspective of the torsion spring with the rod and erin.

Referring to the drawings, the io'ornel hon l is provided with the usuel lid 2 which cov ers the opening through which peeliiiigE etc..

inserted. The lid is scoured ille loon: swing relatively thereto by ineens ol" e, goin 5 which passes throng-li lugs en the lid and e lng; 5 on the box. The letter is shown in the form oit' e. stationery eem having solisten tielly lot positioning or locking surfaces i und a the angle between which is s little lees than 900, though this nitty be verierl to seit, other conditions. The spring 8 to ne secured to the lid eonsists of two spirels, the eil-:es of which slined. The spirals 'J ere spaced e. suitable distance, about en inch in the embodiment shown, and are conneetel by a straight portion l() oi the Wire forming the spring. This straight portion lll nllel to the aries o the tlieliees end in the eylindrical plaine of their circumference. The extremities 1l of the helices reV bent nearly at right angles so that they extend in adirection parallel lo the exis. The spring is placed on the inner fece of the lid with the opposite ends of the helices in suitable seats l2 formed therefor, the ends 11 of the helices being placed in suitable apertures lll et the lid. A rod or shaft. l5 occupies the To transmit to the ouin the full.

drilcal opening of the helices, the axis of the rod being coincident With the axes of the helices. This rod 15 is provided with an 16 extending at right angles thereto at a point near the center of its length. This arm protrudes through the opening formed by the space between the helices `9 and is engaged by the straight intermediate portion l0 of the spring. The arm 16 extends into Contact with the cami and the tension of the spring 8 is so adjusted as to press the arm against the cam surface. As the lid is swung back and forth, the arm 16, the extremity 17 of which acts as a cam follower, moves over the cam 5 and as the lid approaches closed position, the follower rests on the flat surface 6 and the tension of the spring is exerted to hold the lid closed. To

Vopen the lid, the arm 16 must be rotated lefthanded (see Fig. 2) against the tension of the spring. As the lid is swung backward, the arm 16 engages the positioning surface 7 and the lid is held in open position, the cooperation of the parts in this position being similar to that in closed position.

.lt will be noted that the tension of the spring is applied to the arm 16 at the circumference of the helix and the entire resiliency of the device is in the helix, the arm being completely rigid. In this way, the stress which places the spring under tension is evenly distributed over the helix, no particular part or the spring being subject to more stress than any other, and the pressure transmitted to the cam is the full tension of the helix.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. ln combination, a journal box and a hinged lid, a cam securedto one of said members adjacent the hinge, a helical torsion spring mounted on the other, a rigid lever pivotall-y mounted at one end within the helix and projecting therefrom to the cam surface, the lid and the lever swinging l in substantially parallel planes, the spring engaging the arm to press it against thc cam suiace. i

2, ln con'ibination, a journal box and a lid, one having positioningr surfaces at an angle correspondingto the open -and closed positions of the lid, a helical torsion spring mounted on the other, a rigid lever pivotally mounted at one end within the helix and projecting therefrom toward the positioning surfaces, the spring engaging the arm to press it against one surface in o )en and the other in closed position of the li In combination, a journal box` and :i swinging lid, a cam secured to one of said members adjacent the'axis about which such swinging taires place, a helical torsion spring mounted on the otiir'* member, the helix to the rod iii-closet by the helix, aii arm secured to the rod and projecting radially from the helix, a portion of thc spring bearing against the arm to press it against the cam surface.

4. ln combination, a journal box and a swinging lid, a cam secured to one member adjacent the axis about which the lid swings provided with a plurality of positioning surfaces, a helical torsion spring mounted on the other member, a rod inclosed by the helix, an arm projecting radially from the helix and secured to the rod, a portion of the spring bearing against the arm to press it against the positioning surfaces.

5. In combination, a journal box and a swinging lid, one member provided with a positioning surface, a spring composed of two helical coils and an intermediate coiinecting portion mounted on the other meinber, a rod iiiclosed by the helices, and an arm projecting radially from the rod and engaged by the intermediate connecting portion of the spring whereby it is pressed against the positioning surfaces.

6. In combination, a journal box having an opening for the insertion of packing, a

lid for the opening mounted to swing relatively to the box, a stationary cam on the box having flat surfaces corresponding to open and closed positions of the lid, a helical torsion'spring secured to the lid, an arm pivotally mounted within the helix and projecting therefrom, a portion of the spring engaging the aim to press it againstthe cam so that the arm engages one llat cani surface to hold the lid open and the other to hold it closed.

7. ln combination, a journal box having an opening for the insertion of packing, a lid for the opening mounted to swing relatively to the box, a stationary cani on the box having positioning surfaces corresponding to open and closed positioiis of the lid, a helical torsion spring secured to the lid, a rod within the helix, aii arm secured to the rod and projecting radially from the helix, a portion of the spring engaging the arm to press it against the cani.

8. .lii combination, a journal box and a lid, one member provided with a positioniiigsurface, a helical torson spring mounted on the other, the spring having a portion of its length exteiidiiiw in the direction of the axis of thc helix andlying in the cylindrical surface of the liclix, an arm pivoted within the helix and projecting therefrom, the portion of the spring which is parallel to the axis hearing against the arm to press it against the positioning surfaces.

Signed by nie at Baltimore, Maryland, this 15th day of .December 1908.

' THOMAS H. SYlvllNG'lON. lVitnesses: n

J. La Roi' Horxins,

Joran Niciiois. 

